No children hurt in bad bus crash

LEBANON — No children were injured in a serious school bus crash on Carl Broggi Highway and Upper Middle Road Tuesday morning.

The Lebanon Rescue Department, Maine State Police and the Lebanon Fire Department responded to a traffic accident with injuries involving a bus at the intersection of Carl Broggi Highway, also known as Route 202, and Upper Middle Road. The crash was reported at 7:52 a.m.

Lebanon Rescue EMT Josh Gagnon was the first official on scene and located a car and bus involved with heavy damage.

“The bus was reportedly coming off Lower Middle Road when it collided with a car traveling westbound on Carl Broggi Highway. The force of the collision sent the bus into a snow bank. The driver of the bus did an outstanding job checking on the students and other driver and maintaining the scene until rescue crews arrived.

“The school quickly had officials on scene to assist and the seven students on the bus were evaluated by rescue personnel. There were no injuries of the students on the bus. The students were transferred to another school bus after being checked by rescue personnel and brought to the Hanson School so notifications could be made to their parents and the students could talk with a guidance counselor if needed. The bus driver did a great job making sure that the students stayed safe and were checked on before he was checked by medical personnel.” Assistant Chief Jason Cole added. “The children were elementary school children age 5 to 12 years old.”

State Trooper Matthew Williams said the bus driver, 47-year-old John Chanley of Berwick, drove the bus onto Route 202 from the Creamery Hill Road and into the path of an oncoming car, which struck the bus at the front door.

The driver of the car was identified as 46-year-old Kim Scott of Lebanon. The bus is owned by MSAD 60, the school district serving Berwick, North Berwick and Lebanon.

Scott was transported by Lebanon Rescue 2 to Goodall Hospital with what appear to be non-life threatening injuries. Her vehicle was destroyed in the accident. She was wearing her seat belt and her airbags deployed.

The school bus, a 2001 International school bus, sustained heavy damage to the passenger front side of the bus and was also towed from the scene.

Chanley was evaluated at the scene by Lebanon Rescue personnel and was brought to get medical attention by school officials.

This location has been the scene of several serious accidents over the past year.

Responding to the scene were two ambulances and a command truck from Lebanon Rescue, an engine and squad van from Lebanon Fire and Maine State Police.